Communities in Action with MLOV
What is democracy? Why is voting important? How can we combat misinformation? How can we uplift our community? These were some of the questions explored during the first cohort of our Communities in Action program, supported by UnidosUS. Many Languages One Voice (MLOV), in its ongoing work to equip immigrant communities with the tools and resources for civic engagement, recognized the need to emphasize community-building and political participation.
In this first cohort, we learned that every contribution matters. We saw how the talents and strengths of our participants can create meaningful change in their communities. We also reflected on why voting matters—especially for immigrants. Washington, DC is one of at least 16 jurisdictions in the United States that allows non-citizens to vote in local elections. This policy enables non-citizen immigrants to participate not only economically and culturally, but also civically—through the democratic act of voting. It's one more way to ensure our communities are, as the name of the program says, in action.
A special feature of the program was a visit to the Molina Family Latino Gallery, an exhibition inside the National Museum of American History, part of the Smithsonian Institution. During this visit, participants explored the complex and rich history of Latino identity in the U.S. and the many ways Latinos engage with their communities—through art, literature, activism, and more.
We were also honored to receive a visit from Zone 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau, who generously took time to speak with the immigrant community, listen to their questions, and hear their concerns. This moment gave participants a valuable opportunity to learn how to engage with local representatives—not just in times of crisis, but also in moments of shared dialogue and active listening.
We hope this experience helped participants discover more about their own power as active community members—and provided access to critical information that is often hard to find, yet vital for all. Our program surveys reflect these outcomes:
96% of respondents said the program improved their understanding of civic engagement and the U.S. government.
100% said it helped them better understand the issues affecting their community.
96% said it motivated them to get civically involved.
In addition, our outreach team—made up mostly of Communities in Action alumni—has distributed nearly 10,000 brochures since January 2025, sharing information and resources about Know Your Rights for workers and immigrants in DC. Some participants have also testified at public hearings held by the DC City Council.
Our next cohort begins this June. We look forward to welcoming another group of engaged participants, ready to learn, lead, and grow together as part of Communities in Action.
We share some testimonials from former participants:
“I encourage the following people who will have this great opportunity… they will learn many things, like: how the government is formed? We learned how non-citizens can vote and elect our representatives.”
“For me, it was a very beautiful experience because I didn't know we could vote as non-citizens… At the museum, we learned that other people were also discriminated against because of their origin and color, and we suffer the same thing today.”
“Knowing history allows us to understand the present and take the positive and put it into practice. It motivates us to fight for our rights, and although we know nothing is easy, we realize that together we can achieve it.”
“I liked it because we laughed and shared experiences, we learned from each other; it was very interesting.”
